One of Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock's most heralded films, 'Vertigo' is also considered one of the director's most personal projects, as well as a career highlight for legendary lead Jimmy Stewart. Based around a retired police detective who suffers from acrophobia, the dramatic climax begs for a striking tower or tall building to film atop. While San Francisco's Coit Tower is often seen and mentioned in the film, Hitchcock opted to invent his own bell tower at California's largest Spanish mission, Mission San Juan Bautista.